Combination lever



ilk- 14-, 194& A. R. GROSS COMBINATION LEVER Filed June 17, 1943 Patented Dec. 14, 1943 COMBINATION LEVER Angus R. Gross, Baltimore, Md.

Application June 17, 1943, Serial No. 491,217

12 Claims.

This invention is a novel combination lever, particularly adapted for use in motor boats or the like, and the principal object thereof is to provide a main lever adapted to operate the reverse gear clutch of the engine, said lever carrying adjacent its outer end a smaller lever pivoted thereon and operating through a flexible transmitter the throttle of the engine carburetor, said smaller lever being adapted when the throttle is closed to fill a slot in the main lever so as to lie flush therewith, and said smaller lever having a pointer mounted on the pivot pin thereof cooperating with a calibrated dial on the side of the main lever to show the extent of opening of the throttle for any position of the smaller lever.

Another object of the above invention is to provide a combination lever of the above type whereby the operator of the motor boat may by using one hand conveniently reverse the direction of movement of the boat and at the same time control the speed of rotation of the engine or propeller shaft, thus facilitating maneuvering the boat with respect to docks or the like.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one practical embodiment thereof to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the combination lever showing the smaller throttle lever filling the slot in the main lever, in which position the throttle will be closed.

3 provided with perforations 3a for the reception of screws 4 or the like, whereby the lever Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the combination lever shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the outer end of the main lever showing the mounting of the smaller throttle lever thereon.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 55, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 66, Fig. 1.

As shown, the main lever I preferably comprises a casting having a bore l a, extending therethrough from a point adjacent the outer handle portion Id of the lever to its inner end, the inner end of lever I being offset as at lb at substantially right angles and having a shoulder lc adapted to abut against a collar 2 having a flange I may be mounted upon a suitable support S having a bore S through which the collar 2 extends, as shown in Fig. 2, the inner end of portion lb of the lever projecting beyond the end of collar 2 and being adapted to carry an arm (not shown) directly connected through suitable linkage or the likewith the reverse gear clutch of the engine (not shown) in the usual manner.

At the outer end of lever l is a hand grip portion ld having a longitudinally disposed rectangular slot le therein extending from the outer end thereof to a point adjacent the end of bore la of lever I, said slot also extending as at I through a substantially triangular lateral enlargement lg of lever l adjacent the end of bore la, the slot If forming a continuation of the slot le. Preferably the inner wall of slot If in enlargement lg is arcuate in form, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the bore la opens into the slot If, as shown. Extending through the slot lf adjacent the apex of the triangular enlargement lg is a pivot bolt 5 having a nut 5a, said bolt being of non-circular shape between the side walls of slot If as indicated at 5:1: (Fig. 5) for purpose hereinafter described.

Within the slot If mounted upon the noncircular portion 5a: of bolt 5 is the sector-shaped hub Ga of a smaller lever, which lever is adapted in one position to fill the slot le in hand grip portion l d of main lever I, as shown, the outer end of lever 6 extending as at 6b slightly beyond the outer end of the hand grip portion Id of lever l in order to permit the operator to readily grasp the lever B in any position of lever l, the extending portion 6b being insuflicient to interfere with the normal operation of lever l.

g The hub portion (in when lever 6 is disposed in the slot le is provided with a, peripheral recess having one wall 6d disposedsubstantially normal to the bore la of lever l and opposite the upper end of said bore. Extending through said wall lid in hub 6a is a tapped bore 6e into which is threaded the upper end 1a of a flexible transmitter 1 so as to be securely anchored therein, said end la being substantially aligned with the main portion of lever I when the smaller lever B a is in position to close the throttle. Preferably a. replaceable bushing 8 (Fig. 3) is provided in the upper end of bore la to offset undue wear.

The periphery of the hub portion Ba at the opposite side of slot 6c is provided with an arcuate groove 6! (Figs. 2 and 3) adapted to serve as a guide for the overlying portion of flexible transmitter I when the throttle lever 6 is swung out of the slot Ie into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to open the throttle; said guide groove 6f maintaining the flexible transmitter I from undue flexing or crinkling opposite the end of bore la. Flexible transmitter I is connected to the throttle of the carburetor of the engine (not shown) so that when lever B is swung outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the throttle will be opened, but when lever 8 is housed in the slot Ie the throttle will be closed.

Preferably, a set screw 9 is provided in lever l adjacent the base of hand grip portion Id and adapted to enter slot le and contact the throttle lever 6 in order to prgvide adjustment of handle 6 when in closed po tion to control the idling speed of the engine.

As previously stated, the hub portion 6a of throttle lever Ii is mounted upon the non-circular portion a: of bolt 5 and hence as lever B is swung the bolt 5 will rotate therewith. On the head oi bolt 5 is a pointer 5b cooperating with a calibrated scale lg (Fig. 1) to indicate to the operator the amount of opening of the throttle.

By the above construction the operator of the motor boat can by using one hand reverse the direction of movement of the boat by swinging lever I which operates the reverse gear clutch, and simultaneously by using the same hand control the speed of the engine by swinging the throttle lever 6, said construction providing a very simple, novel and eflicient means for maneuvering the boat during docking or the like, and dispensing with the necessity oi the operator having to use one hand to control the engine clutch and the other hand to control the engine throttle. Moreover, the lever 8 when in the slot le is housed in the hand grip portion Id of lever I and in such position the same will not interfere with the operation of lever I.

Where the engine is remote from the pilot house the pointer 5b cooperating with the callbrated scale lg will visually indicate to the operator the speed of the engine or propeller'shaft, thereby facilitating the operation of maneuvering the boat into desired position.-

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawing, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A combination lever, comprising a main lever having a bearing portion adapted to be journaled in a support, a lateral enlargement on said lever adjacent its outer end having a slot extending therein, said slot extending to the outer end of said lever; said lever having a bore therein extending through said bearing portion and communicating with the slot in said enlargement; a second freely movable lever having a hub filling the slot in the enlargement and lever when in one position; a bolt transfixing the slot in the enlargement; said hub being pivoted on the bolt; and a flexible transmitter extending through said bore and having its outer end secured to said hub, whereby as the second lever is swung the flexible transmitter will be moved axially of the bore.

2. In a combination lever as set forth in claim 1, adjustable means entering the slot and engaging the second lever to limit the movement of the second lever in one direction.

3. In a combination lever as set forth in claim 1; said bolt being rotatable with the hub; a pointer carried by the bolt; and a calibrated scale on the exterior of the said enlargement cooperating with the pointer.

4. A combination lever, comprising a main lever having an offset inner end adapted to be journaled in a fixed support; a substantially triangular lateral enlargement on said lever adjacent its outer end having a slot extending therethrough; said slot continuing to the outer end of said lever; said lever having a bore therein extending from the journal at its inner end and communicating with the slot in said enlargement; a second freely movable lever having a sector-shaped hub filling the slot in the enlargement and lever when in one position; a bolt transfixing the slot in the enlargement adjacent the apex thereof; said hub being pivoted on the bolt; and a'flexible transmitter extending through said bore and having its outer end secured to said hub, whereby as the second lever is swung the flexible transmitter will be moved axially of the bore.

5. In a combination lever as set forth in claim 4, a set screw in the main lever entering the slot and engaging the second lever to limit the movement of the second lever in one direction.

6. In a combination lever as set forth in claim 4, said bolt being rotatable with the hub; a pointer carried by the head of the bolt; and a callbrated scale on the exterior of the said enlargement cooperating with the pointer.

7. A combination lever, comprising a. main lever having an offset inner and adapted to be journaled in a fixed support; a substantially triangular lateral enlargement on said lever adjacent its outer end having a slot extending therethrough, said slot continuing to the outer end of said lever; said lever having a bore therein extending from the journal at the inner .end and communicating with the slot in said enlargement; a second freely movable lever having a sector-shaped hub filling the slot in the enlargement and lever when in one position; a bolt transfixing the slot in the enlargement adjacent the apex thereof; said hub being pivoted on the bolt; said hub having a recess in its periphery having one wall disposed opposite the end of the bore when the second lever is housed in the slot, said hub having a tapped bore extending through said wall; and a flexible transmitter extending through said bore and having its outer end threaded into said tapped bore, whereby as the second lever is swung the flexible transmitter will be moved axially of the bore.

8. In a combination lever as set forth in claim '7, a set screw in the main lever entering the slot and-engaging the second lever to limit the movement of the second lever in one direction.

9. In a combination lever as set forth in claim 7; said bolt being rotatable with the hub; a pointer carried by the head of the bolt; and a calibrated scale on the exterior of the said enlargement cooperating with the pointer.

10. A combination lever, comprising a main lever having an oifset inner end adapted to be journaled in a fixed support; a substantially triangular lateral enlargement on said lever adjacent its outer end having a slot extending therethrough, said slot continuing to the outer end of said lever; said lever having a bore therein extending from the journal at the inner end and communicating with the slot in said enlargement; a second freely movable lever having a sector-shaped hub filling the slot in the enlargement and lever when in one position; a bolt transfixing the slot in the enlargement adjacent the apex thereof; said hub being pivoted on the bolt; said hub having a recess in its periphery having one wall disposed'opposite the end of the bore when the second lever is housed in the slot, said hub having a tapped bore extending through said wall; and a flexible transmitter extending through said bore and having its outer end threaded into said tapped bore, whereby as the second lever is swung the flexible transmitter will be moved axially of the bore; the periphery of the hub at the side of the recess opposite from the tapped bore forming an arcuate guide for the flexible transmitter opposite the bore when the 10 second handle is swung out of the slot.

ANGUS R. GROSS, 

